The evolution of land plants: a perspective from horizontal gene transfer

Qia Wang, Hang Sun, Jinling Huang

Abstract


Recent studies suggest that horizontal gene transfer (HGT) played a significant role in the evolution of eukaryotic lineages. We here review the mechanisms of HGT in plants and the importance of HGT in land plant evolution. In particular, we discuss the role of HGT in plant colonization of land, phototropic response, C4 photosynthesis, and mitochondrial genome evolution.

Keywords


mechanisms of HGT; plant evolution; mitochondrial genome; adaptation

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5586/asbp.2014.043

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